We’re happy to announce that SWD Eagles loose forward Jacques “Vleis” Engelbrecht will be joining up with the Sharks squad in Cape Town next week.

While there appears to be no formal contractual arrangement in place (yet), Engelbrecht will be given a trial run to see how he fits in with the team. Don’t be too surprised to see him given a run in one of the Sharks’ Neo Africa Tri Series warm up games as well.

Another player who has been training with the Sharks, Pumas scrumhalf Tian Meyer, is yet to hear whether his services will be required for Super Rugby. Meyer joined the Sharks on camp last week, but has since returned to Witbank to play for the Pumas in a warm up game.

I think it is very important we sign “Vleis”. Why?…Deysel and Alberts are our 2 crash ball 7′s, between them they need to take the ball up in probably 22 games in this comp and most are against other beffy physical South Africans…it is gonna take a lot out of them…from what i have seen after 6 or so games they gonna start feeling the knocks and then train less so that they r fit for the weekend…the extra big guy that can also play 8 will be great for rotation in this very important Superrugby tournament 4 us. we need 2 in each position. 6.Keegs/Botes…would like to see us bring in Brussouw one day in the future, we still don’t have an out and out fetcher. 7.Deysel and “Vleis” 8.Alberts and Kanko. Pretty sick group of loosies…when heinrich’s contract with the cheetahs expires we need to try and get him to Durbs…we will then have a properly complete squad. Our squad is pretty awesome already, but why not make it better…Superrugby allows 4 the use of rotation…interesting season awaits.

Comment 7, posted at 25.01.11 11:14:42 by JJR

I have no opinion, havent seen Vleis or even Tian play really. Will keep my eyes open.

Comment 8, posted at 25.01.11 11:18:20 by Jarson (AddicteD)

This is good news

but why did Mayer return gee is sounds to me should i or should i not
gee get back and stay

Jacques is vleis his nick name

Comment 9, posted at 25.01.11 11:18:59 by chaz

This might be very good news indeed. The last Vleis to play for the Sharks was great and brought a few Currie Cups.

A good omen?

Comment 10, posted at 25.01.11 11:20:06 by Butchie34

@chaz (Comment 9) : Yup…cause he gots lots of meat on him…or maybe he has a braai twice a day…dunno, Just guessing here.

The problem is, Deysel is already injured and if Alberts were to go down in the next month, we’d already be dead in the water in this comp. The Sharks need a big ball-carrier in the loose trio to give them that go-forward and we’ve seen countless times that Keegan, Jacques and Hoff playing together as a combo simply cannot get the job done. The reason Vleis is being looked at is that there isn’t anyone in the wider training group with any experience. Reading between the lines of what Everitt said a few days ago, Dan Oijambo is probably next in line, but he is not ready to be thrown into the Super Rugby deep end and will probably get his chance in the Currie Cup.

Downey would have been a good guy to have in reserve, but he’s also more “hybrid” than out-and-out wrecking ball. I reckon part of the reason Plum never really backed him was because Plum saw him as more of a 6 than a 7/8. Rhodes was tried during the Currie Cup and for whatever reason, Plum decided he didn’t have what it took, hence he was let go.

1) The Bulls’ contracting team is probably not operating at full throttle at the moment
2) Straeuli may just have been stung into action for some or other reason… maybe someone important saw my article?

@beet (Comment 38) : ahead, but it doesn’t sound like we’re trying to sign him… just borrow him

Comment 40, posted at 25.01.11 12:43:37 by robdylan

Going to be a good season…who can remember this time last year we had stories to motivate us supporters..weird how one good season n good buys can turn a team..

Comment 41, posted at 25.01.11 13:00:50 by shaniboi

Good news… strange but flattering that he would rather join the Sharks on a “trial” basis then sign for the Bulls.

It just goes to show that he wants to play for the Sharks. And when he really wants to, you can be sure he will play his heart out to get into the team and stay there. He does however have some great competition and will have to do something really special to compete for a starting spot.

@robdylan (Comment 40) : Thanks. Sadly the Cronje twins stock prices seem to be falling not climbing. Your Ojiambo update sounds exciting. A jumper with lightning speed. He’ll be a sensational player to watch if he can produce the goods at senior level.

Comment 44, posted at 25.01.11 13:47:12 by beet

@beet (Comment 44) : I’m not sure what’s up with Ross and Guy… Everitt looks like he’s going to play Fred Z at flyhalf in the Vodacom Cup… but I’m pretty sure Ross will captain that side. Can’t see who else they’d pick.

@rekinek (Comment 47) : they stretching it out , mark my words then they will say 3 months , and it means the 3 months are up since they were tested

meaning they can play straight away

Comment 50, posted at 25.01.11 15:14:40 by sharks_lover

@sharks_lover (Comment 50) : imo this is where it’s heading as well. but for the players sake they could just tell them 3 months from X so that they do not have to stress. This must be rather difficult for these 2.

Comment 51, posted at 25.01.11 15:19:31 by rekinek

@sharks_lover (Comment 49) : I got this info from the player himself last night, so it is current and accurate.

Comment 52, posted at 25.01.11 15:30:14 by robdylan

@robdylan (Comment 52) : awesome bro you answered me and what i wanted to hear

so ur info is better

Comment 53, posted at 25.01.11 15:31:56 by sharks_lover

@robdylan (Comment 52) : what did you say your day job was again?? you not a CSI spy by any chance… but good work agent Rob.

Comment 54, posted at 25.01.11 16:25:40 by VanWilder

@VanWilder (Comment 54) : it’s amazing what you can achieve with some self believe and a lot of persistence.

At the risk of going philosophical, though, I like to believe that I always have the players’ best interests at heart. This oke has been properly messed around at SWD and I really hope the Sharks give him a good contract. I’m sure the Bulls will snap him up if they don’t.

Comment 55, posted at 25.01.11 17:30:58 by robdylan

Good luck to the lad i hope he turns some heads and gets a nice little contract. He will probably be playing vodacom cup untill some of our loosies gets injured. Saw him playing for SWD he is quite powerfull on his feat. Still no Willem Alberts yet he needs some more “vleis” to get there!